Extortionate tickets and matches moved at Trump’s whim: are you ready for the ‘greatest World Cup ever’? | Marina Hyde
In a recent commentary, Marina Hyde critiques the troubling intersection of politics and sports, particularly focusing on FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s controversial presence in the Oval Office alongside U.S. President Donald Trump. Infantino, known for his assertion that “politics should stay out of football,” appears to be bending this principle when it suits his interests. The article highlights a concerning scenario where Trump suggested that World Cup games scheduled for next summer could be relocated from host cities if he deems them unsafe or non-compliant, a statement that raises alarms about potential political bias, particularly against cities led by Democratic officials. This situation underscores a troubling trend where FIFA is willing to overlook human rights abuses and political instability in certain countries but may impose stricter standards on American cities based on their political affiliations.
Hyde’s commentary reflects a broader disillusionment with FIFA’s leadership, drawing parallels between Infantino and his predecessor, Sepp Blatter, who was ousted amid a massive corruption scandal. The suggestion that Infantino could be seen as an even worse steward of world football further emphasizes the organization’s ongoing struggle with integrity and accountability. The piece serves as a reminder of the complex dynamics at play in global sports governance, where the lines between politics and athletics are increasingly blurred. Hyde’s sharp critique not only highlights the absurdity of the current situation but also invites readers to reconsider the implications of allowing political machinations to influence international sporting events. As the World Cup approaches, the scrutiny on FIFA and its leaders will only intensify, raising critical questions about the future of the sport and its governance.
You may have thought Qatar and Russia were tournament lows. You didn’t account for the US president and his Fifa soulmate, Gianni Infantino
“It’s very clear,” claimed haunted Fifa cue-ball Gianni Infantino
not so long ago
, “that politics should stay out of football and football should stay out of politics.” But is it clear? Is it really? On Monday, the worst man in world sport was – yet again – to be
found in the Oval Office
, this time nodding along to Trump’s declaration that games could be moved from host cities for next summer’s World Cup if the US president deems there’s “a problem” with security or that the cities are non-compliant in some other way. In practice, that seems to mean if they’re run by a Democrat/“communist”. Amazing that the Fifa president will gladly allow his tournaments to be held in any old violent autocracy but, for the purposes of the White House cameras at least, might need to draw the line at Boston.
Honestly, the very sight of Infantino these days causes decades of writing about Fifa to flash before my eyes. How could it have happened? How could we have ended up with an even bigger horror in charge of world football’s governing body than the various ones who went before? When
Sepp Blatter was thrown
from a moving gravy train in 2015 amid an explosive corruption scandal, it would have felt like a genuine feat of sporting excellence to have beaten his record for craven awfulness.
Marina Hyde is a Guardian columnist
A year in Westminster: John Crace, Marina Hyde and Pippa Crerar
On Tuesday 2 December, join Crace, Hyde and Crerar as they look back at another extraordinary year, with special guests, live at the Barbican in London and livestreamed globally. Book tickets
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